US Patent 7951351 - Growing SWCNTs from fullerene seed

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7951351.html

This patent from Hyperion Catalysis teaches a method to fabricate single walled carbon nanotubes with a more narrow size and diameter distribution. Claim 1 reads:


1. A method for producing single walled carbon nanotubes comprising:

(a) reacting a carbon containing gas under reaction conditions with a composition comprising fullerene on a precursor of a metal catalyst, wherein the precursor of a metal catalyst is coated with a thin film of fullerene, and wherein said reaction conditions are suitable for reducing said metal catalyst precursor, said conditions being at atmospheric pressure or greater; and

(b) growing single walled carbon nanotubes, wherein said fullerene serves as a seed for growth of the single walled carbon nanotubes.